In 1994 I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which led me to create Celiac.com in 1995. I created this site for a single purpose: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives. Celiac.com was the first site on the Internet dedicated solely to celiac disease. In 1998 I founded The Gluten-Free Mall, Your Special Diet Superstore!, and I am the co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of Journal of Gluten Sensitivity.

(Celiac.com 07/09/2000)
Researchers in Sweden released a report that shows a high number of patients
with chronic diarrhea also have bile acid malabsorption. Further, steatorrhea
is also common, but appears to be independent of bile acid malabsorption.
Their study evaluated 94 patients with chronic diarrhea for loss of bile
acids using both 75-SeHCAT and a fecal fat excretion tests. The patients
also completed a symptom questionnaire before during a 7 day period before
taking the 75-SeHCAT test.

Dr. Kjell-Arne Ung
and his colleagues from Sahlgrenska University Hospital, in Goteborg reported
their finding in the the May issue of the European Journal of Gastroenterology
and Hepatology. They found that mild steatorrhea was present in 50% of
patients with non-organic bile acid malabsorption, and in 38% of patients
with functional diarrhea. Further, low 75-SeHCAT levels alone is not an
indicator or risk for steatorrhea, although some patients with severe
organic disease had a concomitant malabsorption of fat and of bile acids.
Dr. Ungs study also shows that severe steatorrhea was common in patients
with celiac disease, even in patients with high 75-SeHCAT values.

When compared with
patients who had functional diarrhea, those with bile acid malabsorption
had significantly more frequent and looser stools, however, abdominal
pain, distension and flatulence was equal between those with bile acid
malabsorption and normal bile acid absorption.

In conclusion Dr.
Ung and colleagues state: The high prevalence of bile acid malabsorption
and the absence of specific symptoms, with the exception of frequent and
liquid stools, indicates that the 75-SeHCAT test should be performed early
in the investigation of patients with chronic diarrhea.